U.S. patent application number 10/224789 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for soaker/sprinkler hose.
This patent application is currently assigned to FAIP North America, Inc.. Invention is credited to Alexander, Gus, McCarthy, Morgan P., Pianetto, John.
Application Number | 20040046045 10/224789 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31946283 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040046045 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alexander, Gus ; et
al. |
March 11, 2004 |
Soaker/sprinkler hose
Abstract
A soaker/sprinkler hose having a cylindrical cross section with
radial discharge orifices circumferentially spaced about the entire
perimeter of the conduit along the length thereof for
simultaneously directing liquid flow streams downwardly into the
ground on one side of the conduit for soaking the ground and
upwardly into the air for watering the ground in sprinkling
fashion. The hose is formed with a plurality of axially aligned
rows of discharge orifices, at circumferentially spaced intervals
about the conduit, and is cured in a retractable coiled condition
which facilitates random direction of the discharging liquid
streams when the hose is extended and which facilitates handling
and storage of the hose. A method of making the coiled
soaker/sprinkler hose also is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Alexander, Gus; (Inverness,
IL) ; Pianetto, John; (Hoffman Estates, IL) ;
McCarthy, Morgan P.; (Schaumburg, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900
180 NORTH STETSON AVENUE
CHICAGO
IL
60601-6780
US
|
Assignee: |
FAIP North America, Inc.
Palatine
IL
60067
|
Family ID: |
31946283 |
Appl. No.: |
10/224789 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 53/12 20130101;
B29C 69/002 20130101; B05B 1/205 20130101; B26F 1/0061 20130101;
A01G 25/02 20130101; B29C 2793/0045 20130101; B29L 2023/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/201 |
International
Class: |
B05B 015/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A soaker/sprinkler hose comprising: an elongated cylindrical
conduit positionable in desired fashion along the ground, said
conduit having a circular cross section with a cylindrical wall
which defines a central liquid flow passage, an inlet fitting at an
upstream end of said conduit for connection with a liquid supply, a
downstream fitting at a downstream end of said conduit, said
cylindrical conduit wall being formed with a plurality of radial
discharge orifice circumferentially spaced about the perimeter of
the conduit and along the length thereof for simultaneously
directing radial discharging liquid flow streams downwardly into
the ground on one side of the conduit for soaking the ground and
upwardly into the air for watering the ground in sprinkling
fashion.
2. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 1 in which said discharge
orifices each are defined by a substantially cylindrical configured
liquid flow passage.
3. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 2 in which said cylindrical
flow passages have a diameter of between about 0.1 and 0.2 mm.
4. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 1 in which said discharge
orifices comprise groups of discharge orifices located at axially
spaced intervals along the length of the cylindrical conduit.
5. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 4 in which said discharge
orifices of each group are disposed with uniform circumferential
spacing about the cylindrical conduit.
6. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 4 in which each said group of
discharge orifices comprise at least four discharge orifices.
7. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 5 in which said orifices of
each group are circumferentially spaced 90.degree. with respect to
each other.
8. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 1 in which said hose has a
retractable coiled configuration and is extendable between a
retracted coiled conditions and a substantially straight
condition.
9. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 8 in which said discharge
orifices comprise groups of discharge orifices located at axially
spaced intervals along the length of the cylindrical conduit, said
groups of said discharge orifices at some axial locations being
angularly offset from the groups of said discharge orifices at
other axial locations when said hose is in said substantially
straight condition.
10. A soaker/sprinkler hose comprising: an elongated cylindrical
conduit positionable in desired fashion along the ground, said
conduit having a circular cross section with a cylindrical wall
which defines a central liquid flow passage, an inlet fitting at an
upstream end of said conduit for connection with a liquid supply, a
downstream fitting at a downstream end of said conduit, said
cylindrical conduit wall being formed with radial discharge
orifices circumferentially spaced about the perimeter of the
conduit and along the length thereof for simultaneously directing
discharging liquid flow streams downwardly into the ground on one
side of the conduit for soaking the ground and upwardly into the
air for watering the ground in sprinkling fashion, and said hose
having a permanent coiled form and being extendable from a
retracted coiled condition to a substantially straight
condition.
11. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 10 in which said conduit is
formed with groups of identically formed orifices at axially spaced
locations, and the groups of said discharge orifices at some axial
locations being angularly offset from groups of said orifices at
other locations when said hose is in said substantially straight
condition.
12. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 10 in which said discharge
orifices each is defined by a substantially cylindrical configured
liquid flow passage.
13. The soaker/sprinkler hose of claim 11 in which each said group
of discharge orifices comprise at least four discharge
orifices.
14. A method of making a soaker/sprinkler hose comprising the steps
of extruding a cylindrical conduit, forming rows of axially spaced
liquid discharge orifices in the conduit at circumferentially
spaced locations about the entire outer periphery of the conduit,
and applying end fittings to opposite ends of the apertured
conduit.
15. The method of claim 14 including helically winding the conduit
about a cylindrical mandrel after forming the apertures therein,
and curing the material of the conduit into a permanent extendable
and retractable coil form while on the mandrel.
16. The method of claim 15 including forming rows of axially spaced
apertures at equal circumferentially spaced locations about the
perimeter of the conduit.
17. The method of claim 16 including forming radial apertures.
18. The method of claim 16 including forming rows of axially spaced
apertures at 90.degree. circumferential locations about the
perimeter of the conduit.
19. The method of claim 14 including forming said apertures by
directing the extruded conduit through a plurality of pinwheels
each having radial pins for forming a respective line of axially
spaced apertures in the conduit.
20. The method of claim 19 including directing the extruded conduit
passed said pinwheels as the conduit is being extruded.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to watering and
irrigation hoses, and more particularly, to soaker and sprinkling
hoses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Soaker hoses are known which are made of a pervious or
porous material that allows water to seep through the wall of the
hose to thoroughly wet a relatively narrow width length of ground
immediately beneath the hose. Soaker/sprinkler hoses also are known
which have a plurality of distinct apertures in one side of the
hose at axially spaced locations along the length of the hose to
permit water to be sprayed from such locations. When the hose is
laid along the ground with the apertures facing downwardly, the
hose serves as a typical soaker hose, thoroughly wetting the
portion of the ground immediately below the hose. When the hose is
oriented with the axially spaced apertures directed upwardly, the
hose directs streams of water upwardly for watering a wider width
length of the ground in sprinkling fashion.
[0003] Soaker/sprinkler hoses of the foregoing type, which
typically have either a flat rectangular cross section or a
cylindrical configuration, are well known for the their difficulty
in usage. Flat soaker/sprinkler hoses are cumbersome to effectively
use since the hose must be laid flatly along the ground. Not only
is it difficult to orient a long length of such soaker/sprinkler
hose flatly along the ground, particularly if it has an uneven
contour, it is impossible to turn corners or to reverse the
direction of a hose without significantly disrupting the
orientation of the hose and the intended spray discharge.
Cylindrical soaker/sprinkler hoses are even more cumbersome to use
since they do not have a flat surface to facilitate positioning of
the hose on the ground and orienting the spray discharge apertures.
A tedious procedure must be employed to orient the axially aligned
discharge orifices of a cylindrical hose along its entire length
for the desired direction of the discharging liquid.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
soaker/sprinkler hose which is adapted for easier and more flexible
usage in landscape irrigating and watering.
[0005] Another object is to provide a soaker/sprinkler hose as
characterized above which may be used without cumbersome and
tedious orientation of the spray discharge orifices therein.
[0006] A further object is to provide a soaker/sprinkler of the
above kind which can be simultaneously used for both soaking and
sprinkling.
[0007] Still another object is to provide a soaker/sprinkler hose
of the foregoing type that can be easily positioned around corners
of garden areas and sidewalks without disrupting the function of
the hose at such locations.
[0008] Yet a further object is to provide a soaker/sprinkler hose
which has a coil configuration that enhances the random direction
of the liquid sprinkling pattern.
[0009] Another object is to provide a coil configured
soaker/sprinkler hose that is automatically retractable for easy
handling, usage, and storage.
[0010] Still another object is to provide a soaker/sprinkler hose
of the foregoing type that is relatively simple in construction and
which lends itself to economical manufacture. A related object is
to provide an efficient method of making such a soaker/sprinkler
hose.
[0011] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon
reference to the drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a soaker/sprinkler hose in
accordance with the invention being used about the contoured
perimeter of a garden or landscaped area;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective of the soaker/sprinkler hose shown
in FIG. 1 in a retracted stored position;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the illustrated
soaker/sprinkler hose in its retracted condition;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the soaker/sprinkler hose
shown in FIG. 3, taken in the plane of line 4-4;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic of the method steps of extruding the
hose conduit and forming the conduit with liquid discharge
orifices;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a transverse section through the extruded hose
conduit depicting the arrangement of the orifice forming pinwheels
shown in FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic showing the extruded hose conduit
being wound upon a mandrel for transport into a heating and curing
chamber;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective of one form of retaining stake for
securing the hose in position during usage; and
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective of another form of hose retaining
stake.
[0021] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment
thereof has been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed,
but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit
and scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is
shown an illustrative soaker/sprinkler hose 10 in accordance with
the invention shown for use in soaking and sprinkling a narrow
width area along the perimeter 11 of a garden or landscape area 12.
The hose 10 is in the form of a cylindrical conduit 14 having a
circular cross section with a conventional female inlet fitting 15
at one end for connection to a liquid supply outlet or hose and a
male downstream fitting 18 which, in this case, has a threaded end
cap 19 thereon for closing the end of the hose. It will be
appreciated that the end cap 19 may be removed from the downstream
end fitting 18 for permitting the downstream end of the hose to be
coupled to a similar soaker/sprinkler hose for longer watering
requirements. The hose 10 preferably is made of polyurethane and
has a wall thickness of about 0.26 mm. for defining an internal
liquid flow passageway of between about 1/4 and 1 inch diameter
suitable for most residential needs. The perimeter 11 of the
illustrated landscape area 12, typical of flower gardens and the
like, is curved or contoured to enhance its appearance. As
indicated above, it has been cumbersome to use conventional
soaker/sprinkler hoses about such curved areas without tedious
positioning and repositioning of the hose such that the discharge
orifices are properly oriented either downwardly or upwardly.
[0023] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the hose is
adapted for easier and more versatile simultaneous usage as both
(1) a soaker hose for directing liquid downwardly into the ground
in the vicinity immediately below the hose for thoroughly soaking
that area of the ground and (2) as a sprinkler hose for discharging
discrete upwardly and outwardly directed streams of liquid
particles over a larger width area of the ground in a sprinkling
fashion. To this end, the hose 10, along substantially its entire
length, is formed with a plurality of discrete, circumferentially
spaced liquid discharge orifices 20 about the entire perimeter of
the cylindrical conduit 14 sized to permit, under typical
residential water pressures, the discharge of streams of water in a
plurality of radial directions above and below the hose.
[0024] The discharge orifices 20 in this case are radially oriented
and substantially cylindrical in form, having a diameter of between
about 0.1 and 0.2 mm. such that with inlet water pressures of
between about 15-100 psi the discharge orifices 20 are effective
for directing liquid streams between about three to six foot
upwardly and outwardly of the hose. It will be understood by one
skilled in the art that the size of the liquid droplets directed
into the air is a function of the water pressure and the orifice
diameter. Hence, depending upon the particular desired application,
the orifices can direct liquid droplets of a size for effectively
sprinkling the area on opposite sides of the hose. Smaller sized
discharge orifices, and particularly at higher liquid pressure,
will direct smaller sized liquid particles that are effective for
creating a mist in the surrounding area. For purposes herein, the
term "soaker/sprinkler hose" is intended to encompass hoses which
direct upward and outward liquid particle streams for either
sprinkling or misting applications.
[0025] The liquid discharge orifices 20 in this case comprise
groups 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d etc. of circumferentially spaced
apertures 20 at uniformly spaced axial locations 24 (FIG. 5) along
the length of the hose. More particularly, in the illustrated
embodiment, each group 21a-21d, etc. of the radial discharge
orifices 20 comprises four 90.degree., circumferentially spaced
passages at each axial location. The groups 21a-21d, etc. of
discharge orifices 20 in this case are uniformly spaced apart, such
as at four-inch intervals from each other along substantially the
entire length of the hose. It will be understood by one skilled in
the art that while the illustrated hose has four radial passages 21
at each axial location, alternatively, greater numbers of radial
passages could be used. Still as a further alternative, other
patterns of radial discharge orifices could be used, including
spiral patterns, in which the orifices are located at random
circumferential and axially spaced locations with respect to each
other.
[0026] It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the
soaker/sprinkler hose 10 of the present invention is adapted for
more effective, more versatile, and substantially easier usage than
prior soaker/sprinkler hoses. Indeed, the hose 10 may be laid out
along the desired soaking and sprinkling course, without concern
with respect to the orientation of the discharge apertures 20. In
any rotated or twisted position of the hose, the discharging liquid
streams will be directed both downwardly into or toward the ground
for soaking application and upwardly into the air for
sprinkling/misting application. Hence, the hose can be easily laid
out along the desired sprinkling course, including courses in which
the hose curves about a contoured landscape area or walkway, or
even completely reverses direction.
[0027] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the
hose has a retractable coil construction which facilitates handling
and storage of the hose and which further facilitates random
direction of the discharging radial liquid streams. To this end, as
shown in FIG. 2, the hose 10 has a coiled construction which when
in a released or stored condition comprises a plurality of closely
positioned helical coils having a diameter of about 6 inches. A
50-foot section of the hose, for example, retracts to about 18
inches in length. To use the hose, the inlet end 15 is fixed to an
inlet supply line or pipe (not shown), and if necessary secured to
the ground by a suitable retaining stake 25. The hose can then be
manually trained outwardly from the coil along the desired course.
For making turns, further retaining stakes 25 may be used at
suitable spaced locations. The hose 10 preferably is pulled to a
substantially straight condition, although even in that condition,
the hose makes slight helical turns, which randomly offsets the
radial orifices 20 of each group 21a-21d, etc. at slightly
different circumferential orientations along the length of the hose
for enhanced random direction.
[0028] The retaining stakes 25 may be in the form of a plastic
molded part, such as shown in FIG. 8, which has a pointed end for
easy insertion into the ground and a retaining arm 26 for
positioning over the hose and holding it closely against the ground
at the desired location. Alternatively, the retaining stake 25a may
have a pivotal hose-retaining arm, such as shown in FIG. 9. In this
instance, the upper end of the stake is formed with a curved
hose-receiving seat 28 and has a separate retaining arm 29 is
pivotally connected at one side thereof for positioning over the
hose and releasably latching at a location adjacent an opposite
side of the seat 29.
[0029] In keeping with the invention, an efficient and economical
method is provided for making the subject soaker/sprinkler hose. As
schematically depicted in FIG. 5, a tubular conduit 14 of
polyurethane material first is extruded from an extruding machine
30 with the desired internal diameter, preferably between about 1/4
and 1 inch, and the desired wall thickness. It will be understood
that such an extruding machine 30 and its method of operation are
well known in the art.
[0030] In carrying out the method invention, radial liquid
discharge orifices are formed circumferentially about the perimeter
of the conduit as the conduit is being extruded from the extruding
machine. In the illustrated embodiment, four straight rows of
axially spaced apertures are formed at 90.degree. circumferential
spaced locations about the conduit as the conduit is being
extruded. To that end, a plurality of pin wheels 34 are disposed at
circumferentially spaced locations about the conduit immediately
downstream of the extruding machine which are operable for forming
respective rows of axially spaced apertures 21 circumferentially
spaced along the length of the extruded conduit 14.
[0031] For forming the apertures, in the illustrated embodiment as
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two pairs of pinwheels are provided about
the extruded conduit in perpendicular planes to each other such
that each pinwheel is in a radial plane extending through the
center of the conduit. Each pinwheel has a cylindrical hub 35
located in closely spaced relation to the outer perimeter of the
extruded conduit 14 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced
radial pins 36 about the perimeter of the hub 35. It will be
understood by one skilled in the art that the circumferential
spacing of the pins can be designed to coincide with the desired
axial spacing of the orifices 20. Hence, as the conduit 14 is
extruded and passes between the pinwheels 34, which may be driven
at a corresponding speed, the pins 36 will successively pierce and
form rows of apertures, having a diameter corresponding to the size
of the pins. While the pins in this case have a V-shaped cross
section, the resulting aperture is substantially cylindrical in
form. Other forms of pins, of course, may be used.
[0032] Following passage of the pinwheels 34, the extruded conduit
is directed onto a cylindrical mandrel 38 having a diameter
corresponding to the intended internal diameter of the coil into
which the conduit 14 is to be formed. The conduit is helically
wound about the mandrel 38, as depicted in FIG. 7, and the mandrel
is thereupon transferred by appropriate means, such as by axial
movement, into a heating chamber 39, where the conduit is heated to
a temperature, as is known in the art, sufficient to permanently
cure the polyurethane material into its coiled form. Following such
curing, the end fittings are applied to the conduit to complete the
hose, which in an untensioned condition, assumes a retracted coil
as shown in FIG. 2. As described above, the coiled hose may be
easily stored and handled in such retracted position, while being
manually stretched into a substantially straight condition for
usage.
[0033] From the foregoing, it can be seen that a soaker/sprinkler
hose is provided which is adapted for easier and more flexible
usage in landscape irrigating and watering, without cumbersome and
tedious orientation of the discharge spray orifices therein. The
soaker/sprinkler hose can be simultaneously used for soaking and
sprinkling and can be easily positioned around the corners of
garden areas and sidewalks without disrupting the function of the
hose at such locations. The permanent coil configuration of the
hose further enhances random direction of the sprinkling pattern
and facilitates easy handling, usage and storage.
* * * * *